Diagnostics: genetic engineering

Genetic engineering procedures are becoming more and more important in medicine for diagnostic purposes (A-C). New genetic approaches to the treatment of severe diseases are still in the developmental stage ( gene therapy, D). 

Decker, R.H. and Dawson, G.J. (1989). Recombinant antigens as diagnostic and screening reagents for HIV infections experience with a commercial test. In HIV Detection by Genetic Engineering Methods. P.A.Lnciw and K.S.Steimer, eds. (New York Marcel Dekker), pp. 77 98. 

Hoffman, D.C. and Rosenberg, S. B. (1992). The impact of biotechnology on the in-vitro diagnostic medical market. Genetic Engineering News June 15, 8 9. 

Bacteria produce a wide variety of proteins with toxic effects, and it is possible to detect the potential for such biological activities by sequence homology to known molecules, or by the identification of specific amino acid motifs that are diagnostic for a particular activity (e.g., proteolysis or membranolysis). In these cases, it is often possible to introduce specific mutations by genetic engineering to render the protein nontoxic. Careful selection of the mutations, especially if done in the context of available structural information, such as an atomic-resolution model of the antigen, can produce a fully detoxified molecule that retains the antigenic properties that make it attractive as a vaccine candidate. 

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